Meet Jay Leung | Entrepreneur, Photographer, & Owner of II.XX Second To None Apparel Co.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jay Leung and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started II.XX Second To None Apparel Co. with the intent of spreading awareness, and growing a community around mental health and and having a relentless mindset. My battle with depression, anxiety, overthinking, restlessness, and fear evolved into the ethos of this brand concept. I would never consider myself to be a fashionista, but I love wearing dope designs – especially ones that have meaning. I wanted to bridge the gap between streetwear and mindset, allowing customers to feel the same way I do about wearing clothes that aim to inspire, motivate, and create community.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
In all honesty II.XX Second To None is still in its infancy stage. I don’t have any success stories pertaining to the business…yet. I continue to learn every single day, constantly studying every facet of the business, and at the same time drafting new creatives for designs and silhouette concepts. I have, and continue to have, experiences with mental challenges, but that only inspires me to design more. I think that’s what makes my apparel appeal to my customers. Each design is stemmed from my own experiences, influences, and motivations. It’s relatable, candid, and vulnerable. I’m an introverted, artistic person who suffers from a lot of mental quirks…it could always be worse!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Los Angeles in general is a mecca of cultures, and beauty. The arts district is one of my favorite spots in the city, as it offers plenty of things to do to find creative inspiration. I’m all about supporting small businesses, so I would take my friend into Little Tokyo to browse in Japanese Village, and get some of the best Japanese food. Or maybe they’re craving some legit Chinese food, then off to San Gabriel Valley we go. The culinary selections in LA are truly endless. Then maybe we’d attend a Laker game at Crypto Arena. Can’t visit Socal without checking out the beaches, and in my personal opinion, the best beaches are in Newport in Orange County. And to wind down, Elysian Park at sunset gives the best views of the DTLA skyline. There are just too many places to list to get detailed, but regardless, someone visiting LA will have SOMETHING that will pique their interest!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Quite frankly, there are many many individuals that propel me to become a better person. If I could only pick one single person who has had the most impact in my life, that person would be Kobe Bryant. Weird huh? Never met the guy, so how could such a person have such a huge impact on my life? Simple – his work ethic, mindset, and encouragement of others. He was my hero, and although his life was cut way too short, he made the most of his existence, and left a massive legacy. Every time I doubt myself or feel like a failure, I look to Kobe for inspiration. HIs rookie years he made so many mistakes that made us question his capabilities as an NBA player. That didn’t keep him down, instead he did the exact opposite and worked even harder to perfect his craft. If that’s not inspiration to stop feeling sorry for yourself and keep working harder, then I don’t know what else can motivate an individual.

Website: https://www.shopiixx.com

Instagram: @ii.xx.secondtonone

Image Credits
Photos by Myself and Nick Belohlavy @nickbphotoguy